Method and apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock area and permitting aeration and ventilation at a water receptacle

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock area and characterized by the use of coil spring means operable to define an impediment to licking of an upper portion of a water body by livestock.

United "Petent 15 Mummau [4 51 Sept. 25, 1973 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR1,989,477 1/1935 Ferris 119/75 MINIMIZING THE FQULING OF A 3,205,8619/1965 Moore 119/61 WATER RECEPTACLE A I [76]' Inventor: Ernest E.Mummau, Rt. l, Box 266 A, Oxford, Pa. 19363 221 Filed: Sept. 21, 1971[21] App1.N0.: 182,457

52 us. c1. 119/75 [51] Int. Cl A0 lk 07/00 [58] Field of Search...;.'ll9/6l,'75, 72

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,808 3/1930 Greene119/61 LIVESTOCK AREA AND PERMITTING AERATION AND VENTILATION AT AMethod and apparatus for minimizing the fouling of 21 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 915,515 7/1954 Germany 314,461 6/1929 Great Britain PrimaryExaminer-Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-James E. Cockfield ABSTRACT livestockarea and characterized by the use of coil spring means operable todefine an impediment to licking of an upper ponion of a water body bylivestock.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING THEFOULING OF A LIVESTOCK AREA AND PERMITTING AERATION AND VENTILATION AT AWATER RECEPTACLE GENERAL BACKGROUND, OBJECTS, AND

SUMMARY OF INVENTION 1 Agricultural operations involving the nurturingand raising of livestock have been progressively improved so as torelieve farmers of many chores heretofore asso- .occurs. i All thisnotwithstanding, a substantial need has persisted for improving thesanitation of livestock feed areas without impairing the extent to whichfeeding and watering operations have been mechanized or automated. p

For example, and particularly in connection with the care and raising oflivestock such as cows, feed areas have been provided wherein waterreceptacles are op erated under the control of livestock.

In a conventional installation of this nature, a water receptacle issuperposed above a feed trough. In this conventional installation, awater flow controlling mechanism is contained in the interior of thewater receptacle. This control mechanism is actuated by a cows nose soas to initiate a flowof water into the receptacle for drinking purposes.The advantages of this automated arrangement are substantial. However,cows at times tend to slurp or lick the upper surface of a water bodycontained in such a receptacle. This slurping or licking action hastended to foul the feed area, and often has produced the undesirableeffect of causing water to drop from the water receptacle into feedin'the feed trough itself.

,1 One known prior effort has been made to alleviate this problem.- Inthis prior effort, a slit innertube is placed across the upper surfaceof a water receptacle. This substantially continuous rubber sheetprevents or impedes licking while a slit in the sheet enables a cow toinsert its nose through the sheet and drink from a waterbody in thereceptacle interior.

However, this sheet arrangement destroys the visibility of the waterflow control mechanism and prevents aeration and exposure to light ofthe interior of the water receptacle. As a result, the receptacle maytend to become dirty and filled with stagnant water. In addition,Noxious odors and unsightly appearances may be generated because of thelack of adequate ventilation and exposure to light.

Recognizing the drawbacks of this prior art effort at minimizing theslurping" and licking problems, it is the object of the presentinvention to provide a mechanism and technique for impeding slurpingiand licking of animal watering means while maintaining optimizedvisibility, ventilation and aeration of the interior of a waterreceptacle.

It is. a particular object of such an improvement which may be readilyadapted to conventional water receptacles with minimum cost.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improvementwhich will afford continuousvisibility of water flow control mechanismcontained in the base of a water receptacle.

the invention to provide A still further object of the invention is toprovide such an improvement which will readily permit the maintenance ofa high degree of sanitation in a livestock watering area and facilitatecleaning operations.

In accomplishing certain of the foregoing objectives, a method ofminimizing'the fouling of a livestock area is presented through thisinvention. This method is characterized by the impeding of the lickingof the surface of the water body of livestock by concurrently disposingimpediment means transversely across the water body and affordingcontinuous access to, aeration of, and exposure to light of the interiorof the receptacle containing the water body.

In another sense, this method aspect of the invention embraces thedisposition of such an impediment on a water receptacle whilemaintaining access to the interior of the receptacle, visibility of theinterior of the receptacle, and aeration and exposure to light of theinterior of the receptacle, the presence or absence of water in thereceptacle notwithstanding.

Other aspects of the invention involve. combinations of apparatus meanswhich permit the aforesaid methods to be effectively and synergisticallyimplemented.

A particularly significant apparatus aspect of the invention pertains tostructuralcharacteristics of a preferred impediment means.

These structural characteristics entail a first coil spring meansoperable to extend across an upper portion of a water body from whichanimals would drink. Also included in this apparatus is a second coilspring means operable to extend across this upper portion of the waterbody. The first and second coil springs are operable to cooperate todefine the generally V- shaped, resilient impediment to licking of thewater body. In addition the first and second coil spring means areoperable to define a resiliently and transversely deformable peripheryof a continuously open access passage. This periphery is operable todistend in response to the insertion of an animal nose into the openpassage and permit the animal to drink from the water body. The firstand second coil spring means are concurrently operable to defineaeration and light exposure means comprising passage means disposedtransversely outwardly of and between the first and second coil springmeans. This plurality of passage means cooperates to permit aerationof'and exposure to light of the water body.

DRAWINGS In describing the invention reference will be made to apreferred embodiment illustrated in the appended drawings.

In the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a livestock feed zone,illustrating water receptacle means superposed above feed trough means;v

FIG. 2 providesan enlarged top plan view of one of the water receptaclesillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 provides a transverse vertical sectional view of FIG. 2 as viewedalong section line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the manner in which the coil springimpediment shown in FIG. 2 operates to impede licking of a water body bylivestock; and

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the manner in which the FIG. 2 coilspring means may be distended to permit an animals nose to movedownwardly into a water body for drinking purposes and/or for thepurpose of actuating a water flow control mechanism.

' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A representativelivestock feed installation 1, depicted schematically in FIG. 1,illustrates a context in which the present invention may be practiced.

As shown in FIG. 1, installation 1 may comprise a feed trough 2. Feedtrough 2 may be defined by transverse barrier means 3 into a pluralityof longitudinally displaced feed zones 4.

Each such feed zone 4 is operable to contain grain or other feed, forexample hay, which may comprise cow feed material.

Immediately above each compartment 4, containing the feed material 5, isa water receptacle 6.

With this arrangement, an individual cow will be able, when disposedadjacent a front side 7 of a trough zone 4 and a front side 8 of areceptacle 6 superposed above this zone, to alternately feed from thetrough zone 4 and drink from the water receptacle 6.

As has been heretofore noted, the present invention is concerned with ananti-fouling arrangement and technique. This arrangement and techniqueenables feeding and drinking to take place in the same immediate areawhile substantially preventing or minimizing the extent to which wateris slopped from the receptacle 6 into the feed zone 4 or onto adjacentground or wall areas, so as to foul the overall feed area.

Water receptacle 6 may comprise a conventional cow-nose actuated lever9, shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each such control or actuatingmeans 9 may be associated with a conventional valve mechanism which isoperable to control the flow of water through a supply conduit 10. Asshown generally in FIG. 3, each supply conduit 10 is operable to supplywater to the base of the interior 11 of a receptacle 6.

conventionally, a cow would actuate lever 9, so as to cause a flow ofwater from pipe 10 into the interior 11 of receptacle 6, by insertingits nose downwardly into the interior space 1 l and pressing controllever 9 downwardly.

With the general context of the invention having been set forth,attention will now be devoted to the novel anti-slop or anti-lickaspects of the invention which prevent fouling of the feed area whilepermitting ventilation, aeration, and visibility of the water receptacleinterior.

ANTI-FOULING OF FEED AREA FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate structural detailsof an anti-fouling mechanism 12 which constitutes a preferred, but notnecessarily restrictive, embodiment of the invention.

Anti-fouling mechanism 12 includes resilient means comprising first coilspring means 13 and second coil spring means 14. Each of the coil springmeans 13 and 14 extends access an upper portion of a water body 15contained within the interior space 11. The coil spring means 13 and 14extend transversely across the upper portion 15a of the water body andwould ordinarily be oriented in a general horizontal plane.

As shown in FIG. 2, the coil spring means 13 and 14 diverge away fromthe side 8 adjacent to which a cow would ordinarily stand, so as toprovide a general V- shaped configuration.

A first end 16 of spring 13 is detachably secured to a rim 17 ofreceptacle 6 by an arcuate clip 18. A first end 19 of spring 14 issecured to a circumferentially spaced area of rim 17 by another suchdetachable arcuate clip 20. A third arcuate clip 21, mountedsymmetrically on edge 17 at the center of side 8, and orientedsymmetrically with relation to the positioning of clips 18 and 20,serves to detachably secure the other or second ends 22 and 23 ofsprings 13 and 14 to rim 17.

Each of the clips 18, 20 and 21 may be detachably locked or secured tothe rim 17 by way of a threaded fastening screw 24. As generally shownin FIG. 3 in connection with clip 21, each such fastening screw 24 maypass through a lower and outer clip portion and abuttingly engage anunder edge portion 17a of the receptacle rim 17.

Coil springs 13 and 14 provide a generally horizontally extending accesspassage 25 which is disposed transversely between the diverging springs13 and 14. This generally V-shaped passage 25 is continuously open andis preferably superposed immediately above the control lever 9. Thispassage 25 affords continuous access to, and insures continuousvisibility of, the control means lever 9.

Generally horizontally extending and segmentally configured passages 26and 27 are disposed transversely outwardly of coil springs 13 and 14respectively. These plural passage means 26 and 27 cooperate with accesspassage 25 to provide'means permitting continuous aeration and exposureto light of the interior 11 of the receptacle 6 and the upper portion15a of the water body 15.

With the arrangement as heretofore described, a cow 28 may insert itsnose into the passage 25, as generally shown in FIG. 5, and transverselyoutwardly deform the passage defining periphery means 13 and 14. Thisdeformation of the spaced coil spring means 13 and 14, which define theperiphery of passage 25, permits a cow 28 to cause its nose to engagethe lever 9, as necessary, and obtain a fresh supply of water fordrinking purposes.

However, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, if the cow 28 should raiseits nose out of the water body 15 and attempt to slurp or lick the upperwater surface 15b, the cow tongue 29 would engage the coil springs '13and 14. This engagement would produce an unpleasant sensation and causethe cow to terminate such slurping or licking action. In this manner thecow would be prevented from slurping water over and into the trough zone4 and its surrounding vicinity and would thereby prevent fouling of thefeed area and damaging of the feed mass 5.

MAJOR ADVANTAGES AND OVERALL SCOPE OF THE INVENTION Substantialadvantages of the invention have been discussed in relation to thepreferred embodiment.

As will be recognized, the resilient mechanism 12 may be fabricated atminimum expense and be readily installed on conventional waterreceptacles.

As desired, the impedance mechanism 12 may be removed from the rim 17for servicing, replacement or cleaning purposes.

Significantly, no special tools are required for the installation orremoval of the mechanism 12.

With the mechanism 12 installed, a cow is not deterred from drinkingbecause it is unable to see the interior of the receptacle or see thewater control lever.

Most significantly, the surface. passage means 25, 26 and 27 insurecontinuous aeration and ventilation of the interior ll of the receptacle6 so as to prevent the formation of noxious odors, stagnant water, etc.The unobstructed visibility of the interior space 11 enables a farmer todetermine quickly when cleaning of the receptacle 6 is required. g I

While the V-shaped configuration of the impedance mechanism is believedto be particularly effective, it is possible that other arrangements ofspaced resilient means may be employed while achieving the concurrentadvantages of impedance to licking, visibility, aeration and exposure tolight.

Those familiar with this disclosure and skilled in the animal feedingart may recognize additions, deletions, substitutions or othermodifications which would fall within the purview of the invention asset forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock feed area saidapparatus comprising:

feed trough means;

water receptacle means for containing a water body,

said water receptacle means having an edge portion and superposedgenerally above said feed trough means;

water supply means, operable to supply a water body to said waterreceptacle means,

animal nose actuated control means contained within said waterreceptacle means and engagable by a nose of an animal to effect waterflow controlling operation of said water supply means; and anti-lickingmeans carried by said water receptacle means, operable to impede lickingof the surface of said water body by livestock, and including resilientmeans extending transversely of the edge portion of said waterreceptacle means and operable to impede licking by an animal of an upperportion of said water body, continuously open access means affordingcontinuous access to, and continuous visibility of, said control means;aeration and light exposure means defined by said continuously openaccess means and generally horizontally extending and segmentallyconfigured passages operable to provide continuous ventilation andexposure to light of substantially said entire upper portion of saidwater body, and detachable clip means operable to detachably supportsaid resilient means on said water receptacle means. 2. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 1 wherein: said resilient means comprises first coilspring means extending across said upper portion of said water body, andsecond coil spring means extending across said upper portion of saidwater body, said first and second coil spring means cooperating todefine a generally V-shaped, resilient impediment to licking, with theV-shape of said impediment diverging away from a side of said waterreceptacle means adjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand;said access means comprises a continuously open, generally V-shapedpassage disposed between said first and second coil spring means, I

said generally V-shaped passage diverging away from said side of saidwater receptacle means adjacent to which an animal would ordinarilystand;

said first and second coil spring means providing a resiliently andtransversely deformable passage periphery operable to distend inresponse to the insertion of an animal's nose and permit said animal todrink water from said water body and actuate said control means;

said aeration and light exposure means comprises a plurality ofpassagemeans disposed transversely outwardly of said first and secondcoil spring means, and

said generally V-shaped passage of access means,

said plurality of passage means and said generally V-shaped passagecooperating to permit aeration of and exposure to light of substantiallythe entire upper surface of said water body and interior portions ofsaid water receptacle means extending above said upper surface of saidwater body; and

said detachable clip means comprises a first generally arcuate clipengaging one end of said first coil spring means and operable todetachably engage an edge portion of said water receptacle means, and

a second, generally arcuate clip engaging one end of said second coilspring means and operable to detachably engage an edge portion of saidwater receptacle means, and

a third, generally arcuate clip engaging another end of said first coilspring means and another end of said second coil spring means andoperable to detachably engage an edge portion of said water receptaclemeans.

3. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock area, saidapparatus comprising:

resilient means including first coil spring means operable to extendacross an upper portion of a water receptacle means operable to containa water body from which animals would drink, and

second coil spring means operable to extend across said upper portion ofsaid water receptacle means,

said first and second coil spring means being operable to cooperate todefine a generally V-shaped, resilient impediment to licking of saidwater body;

attachment means for attaching said first and second coil spring meansto said water receptacle means; said first and second coil spring meansbeing operable to define a resiliently and transversely deformableperiphery of a continuously open passage, which periphery is operable todistend in response to the insertion of an animal nose and permit saidanimal to drink water from said water body, and

aeration and light exposure means comprising a plurality of passagemeans disposed transversely outwardly of said first and second coilspring means, and

an access passage disposed transversely between said first and secondcoil spring means,

said plurality of passage means and said access passage cooperating topermit aeration of and exposure to light of the interior of said waterreceptacle means. 4. A method of minimizing the fouling of a livestockfeed area, said method comprising:

disposing water receptacle means above feed trough means, dividing anupper portion of the water receptacle means into a plurality of portionsto impede the licking of the surface of a water body by livestock bydisposing V-shaped resilient impediment means extending generallytransversely of the upper portion thereof; providing continuous accessto apportion of said water body, with said continuous access enablinglivestock to drink from said water body; substantially continuouslyaerating, and exposing to light, said upper portion of said water body;substantially continuously maintaining said upper portion of said saidwater body visible; and permitting an animal to cause feeding of waterto said water receptacle means by inserting its nose through a passagedefined by said V-shaped resilient impediment means and engaging waterflow control means. 5. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of alivestock feed area, said apparatus comprising:

feed trough means; water receptacle means, superposed generally abovesaid feed trough means; water supply means, operable to supply a waterbody to said water receptacle means; animal nose actuated control means,contained within said water receptacle means and engagable by a nose ofan animal to effect water flow controlling operation of said watersupply means; and anti-licking means carried by said water receptaclemeans, operable to impede licking of the surface of said water body bylivestock and including: resilient means extending transversely of saidwater body and operable to impede licking of an upper portion of saidwater body by an animal, said resilient means further comprising:

first coil spring means extending across said upper portion of saidwater body, and

second coil spring means extending across said upper portion of saidwater body,

said first and second coil spring means cooperating to define agenerally V-shaped,

resilient impediment to licking, with the v-shape of said impedimentdiverging away from a side of said water receptacle means adjacent towhich an animal would ordinarily stand;

continuously open access means affording continuous access to, andcontinuous visibility of, said control means, said access means furthercomprising:

a continuously open, generally V-shaped passage disposed between saidfirst and second coil spring means,

said generally V-shaped passage diverging away from said side of saidwater receptacle means adjacent to which an animal would ordinarilystand,

said first and second coil spring means providing a resiliently andtransversely deformable passage periphery operable to distend inresponse to the insertion of an animals nose'and permit said animal todrink said water from said water body and actuated said control means;aeration and light exposure means operable to provide continuousventilation and exposure to light of substantially said entire upperportion of said water body,

said aeration and light exposure means further comprising:

a plurality of passage means disposed transversely outwardly of saidfirst and second coil spring means, and said generally V-shaped passageof access means,

said plurality of passage means and said generally V-shaped passagecooperating to permit aeration of exposure to light of substantially theentire upper surface of said water body and interior portions of saidwater receptacle means extending above said upper surface of said waterbody; and

detachable clip means operable to detachably sup port said resilientmeans on said water receptacle means,

said detachable clip means comprising:

a first generally arcuate clip engaging one end of said first coil spimgmeans and operable to detachably engage an edge portion of said waterreceptacle means and a second, generally arcuate clip engaging one endof said second coil spring means and operable to detachably engage anedge portion of said water receptacle means, and a third, generallyarcuate clip engaging another end of said first said coil spring meansand another end of said second coil spring means and operable todetachably engage an edge portion of said water receptacle means.

6. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock feed area,said apparatus comprising:

feed trough means; water receptacle means, superposed generally abovesaid feed trough means; water supply means, operable to supply a waterbody to said water receptacle means; animal nose actuated controlmmeans, contained within said water receptacle means and engagable by anose of an animal to effect water flow controlling operation of saidwater supply means; and antilicking means carried by said waterreceptacle means, operable to impede licking of the surface of saidwater body by livestock and including: resilient means extendingtransversely of said water body and operable to impede licking of anupper portion of said water body by an animal, said resilient meansfurther comprising:

first elongate flexible means extending across said upper portion ofsaid water body, and second elongate flexible means extending acrosssaid upper portion of said water body, said first and second flexibleelongate means cooperating to define a generally V-shaped, resilientimpediment to licking, with the V-shape of said impediment divergingawayfrom a side of said water receptacle means adjacent to which an animalwould ordinarily stand; continuously open access means affordingcontinuous access to, and continuous visibility of, said control means,said access means further comprising:

a continuously open, generally V-shaped passage disposed between saidfirst and second flexible elongate means, said generally V-shapedpassage diverging away from said side of said water receptacle meansadjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand,

said first and second flexible elongate means providing a resilientlyand transversely deformable passage periphery operable to distend inresponse to the insertion of an animals nose and permit said animal todrink said water from said waterv body and actuated said control means;

aeration and light exposure means operable to provide continuousventilation and exposure to light of substantially said entire upperportion of said water body,

said aeration and light exposure means further comprising:

a plurality of passage means disposed transversely outwardly of saidfirst and second flexible elongate means, and said generally V- shapedpassage of access means;

said plurality of passage means and said generally V-shaped passagecooperating to permit aeration of and exposure to light of substantiallythe entire upper portion of said water body and interior portions ofsaid water receptacle means extending above said upper surface of saidwater body; and

detachable clip means operable to detachably support said resilientmeans on said water receptacle means,

said detachable clip means comprising:

a first generally arcuate clip engaging one end of said first flexibleelongate means and operable to detachably engage an edge portion of saidwater receptacle means, and second, generally arcuate clip engaging oneend of said second flexible elongate means and operable to detachablyengage an edge portion of said water receptacle means, and

a third, generally arcuate clip engaging another end of said firstflexible elongate means and another end of said second flexible elongatemeans and operable to detachably engage an edge portion of said waterreceptacle means.

7. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock area, saidapparatus comprising:

resilient means including:

first flexible elongate means operable to extend across an upper portionof a water body from which animals would drink, and

second flexible elongate means operable to extend across said upperportion of said water body,

said first and second flexible elongate means being operable tocooperate to define a generally V- shaped resilient impediment tolicking of said water body; said first and second flexible elongatemeans being operable to define:

a resiliently and transversely deformable periphery of a continuouslyopen passage, which periphery is operable to distend in response to theinsertion of an animal's nose and permits said animal to drink waterfrom said water body, and

aeration and light exposure means comprising:

a plurality of passage means disposed transversely outwardly of saidfirst and second flexible elongate means, and

an access passage disposed transversely between said first and secondflexible elongate means,

said plurality of passage means and said access passage cooperating topermit aeration of and exposure to light of the interior of said waterreceptacle means.

8. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock feed area saidapparatus comprising:

water receptacle means for containing a water body,

said water receptacle means having an edge portion;

water supply means operable to supply a water body to said waterreceptacle means,

animal nose actuated control means contained within said waterreceptacle means and engagable by a nose of an animal to effect waterflow controlling operation of said water supply means; and

anti-licking means carried by said water receptacle means, operable toimpede licking of the surface of said water body by livestock, andincluding resilient means extending transversely of the edge portion ofsaid water receptacle means and operable to impede licking by an animalof an upper portion of said water body;

continuously open access means affording continuous access to, andcontinuous visibility of, said control means;

aeration and light exposure means defined by said continuously openaccess means and generally horizontally extending and segmentallyconfigured passages operable to provide continuous ventilation andexposure to light of substantially said entire upper portion of saidwater body; and

detachable clip means operable to detachably support said resilientmeans on said edge portion of said water receptacle means.

1. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock feed area saidapparatus comprising: feed trough means; water receptacle means forcontaining a water body, said water receptacle means having an edgeportion and superposed generally above said feed trough means; watersupply means, operable to supply a water body to said water receptaclemeans, animal nose actuated control means contained within said waterreceptacle means and engagable by a nose of an animal to effect waterflow controlling operation of said water supply means; and anti-lickingmeans carried by said water receptacle means, operable to impede lickingof the surface of said water body by livestock, and including resilientmeans extending transversely of the edge portion of said waterreceptacle means and operable to impede licking by an animal of an upperportion of said water body, continuously open access means affordingcontinuous access to, and continuous visibility of, said control means;aeration and light exposure means defined by said continuously openaccess means and generally horizontally extending and segmentallyconfigured passages operable to provide continuous ventilation andexposure to light of substantially said entire upper portion of saidwater body, and detachable clip means operable to detachably supportsaid resilient means on said water receptacle means.
 2. An apparatus asdescribed in claim 1 wherein: said resilient means compRises first coilspring means extending across said upper portion of said water body, andsecond coil spring means extending across said upper portion of saidwater body, said first and second coil spring means cooperating todefine a generally V-shaped, resilient impediment to licking, with theV-shape of said impediment diverging away from a side of said waterreceptacle means adjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand;said access means comprises a continuously open, generally V-shapedpassage disposed between said first and second coil spring means, saidgenerally V-shaped passage diverging away from said side of said waterreceptacle means adjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand;said first and second coil spring means providing a resiliently andtransversely deformable passage periphery operable to distend inresponse to the insertion of an animal''s nose and permit said animal todrink water from said water body and actuate said control means; saidaeration and light exposure means comprises a plurality of passage meansdisposed transversely outwardly of said first and second coil springmeans, and said generally V-shaped passage of access means, saidplurality of passage means and said generally V-shaped passagecooperating to permit aeration of and exposure to light of substantiallythe entire upper surface of said water body and interior portions ofsaid water receptacle means extending above said upper surface of saidwater body; and said detachable clip means comprises a first generallyarcuate clip engaging one end of said first coil spring means andoperable to detachably engage an edge portion of said water receptaclemeans, and a second, generally arcuate clip engaging one end of saidsecond coil spring means and operable to detachably engage an edgeportion of said water receptacle means, and a third, generally arcuateclip engaging another end of said first coil spring means and anotherend of said second coil spring means and operable to detachably engagean edge portion of said water receptacle means.
 3. An apparatus forminimizing the fouling of a livestock area, said apparatus comprising:resilient means including first coil spring means operable to extendacross an upper portion of a water receptacle means operable to containa water body from which animals would drink, and second coil springmeans operable to extend across said upper portion of said waterreceptacle means, said first and second coil spring means being operableto cooperate to define a generally V-shaped, resilient impediment tolicking of said water body; attachment means for attaching said firstand second coil spring means to said water receptacle means; said firstand second coil spring means being operable to define a resiliently andtransversely deformable periphery of a continuously open passage, whichperiphery is operable to distend in response to the insertion of ananimal nose and permit said animal to drink water from said water body,and aeration and light exposure means comprising a plurality of passagemeans disposed transversely outwardly of said first and second coilspring means, and an access passage disposed transversely between saidfirst and second coil spring means, said plurality of passage means andsaid access passage cooperating to permit aeration of and exposure tolight of the interior of said water receptacle means.
 4. A method ofminimizing the fouling of a livestock feed area, said method comprising:disposing water receptacle means above feed trough means, dividing anupper portion of the water receptacle means into a plurality of portionsto impede the licking of the surface of a water body by livestock bydisposing V-shaped resilient impediment means extending generallytransversely of the upper portion thereof; providing continuous accessto apportion of said Water body, with said continuous access enablinglivestock to drink from said water body; substantially continuouslyaerating, and exposing to light, said upper portion of said water body;substantially continuously maintaining said upper portion of said saidwater body visible; and permitting an animal to cause feeding of waterto said water receptacle means by inserting its nose through a passagedefined by said V-shaped resilient impediment means and engaging waterflow control means.
 5. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of alivestock feed area, said apparatus comprising: feed trough means; waterreceptacle means, superposed generally above said feed trough means;water supply means, operable to supply a water body to said waterreceptacle means; animal nose actuated control means, contained withinsaid water receptacle means and engagable by a nose of an animal toeffect water flow controlling operation of said water supply means; andanti-licking means carried by said water receptacle means, operable toimpede licking of the surface of said water body by livestock andincluding: resilient means extending transversely of said water body andoperable to impede licking of an upper portion of said water body by ananimal, said resilient means further comprising: first coil spring meansextending across said upper portion of said water body, and second coilspring means extending across said upper portion of said water body,said first and second coil spring means cooperating to define agenerally V-shaped, resilient impediment to licking, with the v-shape ofsaid impediment diverging away from a side of said water receptaclemeans adjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand; continuouslyopen access means affording continuous access to, and continuousvisibility of, said control means, said access means further comprising:a continuously open, generally V-shaped passage disposed between saidfirst and second coil spring means, said generally V-shaped passagediverging away from said side of said water receptacle means adjacent towhich an animal would ordinarily stand, said first and second coilspring means providing a resiliently and transversely deformable passageperiphery operable to distend in response to the insertion of ananimal''s nose and permit said animal to drink said water from saidwater body and actuated said control means; aeration and light exposuremeans operable to provide continuous ventilation and exposure to lightof substantially said entire upper portion of said water body, saidaeration and light exposure means further comprising: a plurality ofpassage means disposed transversely outwardly of said first and secondcoil spring means, and said generally V-shaped passage of access means,said plurality of passage means and said generally V-shaped passagecooperating to permit aeration of exposure to light of substantially theentire upper surface of said water body and interior portions of saidwater receptacle means extending above said upper surface of said waterbody; and detachable clip means operable to detachably support saidresilient means on said water receptacle means, said detachable clipmeans comprising: a first generally arcuate clip engaging one end ofsaid first coil spirng means and operable to detachably engage an edgeportion of said water receptacle means and a second, generally arcuateclip engaging one end of said second coil spring means and operable todetachably engage an edge portion of said water receptacle means, and athird, generally arcuate clip engaging another end of said first saidcoil spring means and another end of said second coil spring means andoperable to detachably engage an edge portion of said water receptaclemeans.
 6. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of a livestock feedarea, said apparatus comprising: feed trough means; watEr receptaclemeans, superposed generally above said feed trough means; water supplymeans, operable to supply a water body to said water receptacle means;animal nose actuated control mmeans, contained within said waterreceptacle means and engagable by a nose of an animal to effect waterflow controlling operation of said water supply means; and anti-lickingmeans carried by said water receptacle means, operable to impede lickingof the surface of said water body by livestock and including: resilientmeans extending transversely of said water body and operable to impedelicking of an upper portion of said water body by an animal, saidresilient means further comprising: first elongate flexible meansextending across said upper portion of said water body, and secondelongate flexible means extending across said upper portion of saidwater body, said first and second flexible elongate means cooperating todefine a generally V-shaped, resilient impediment to licking, with theV-shape of said impediment diverging away from a side of said waterreceptacle means adjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand;continuously open access means affording continuous access to, andcontinuous visibility of, said control means, said access means furthercomprising: a continuously open, generally V-shaped passage disposedbetween said first and second flexible elongate means, said generallyV-shaped passage diverging away from said side of said water receptaclemeans adjacent to which an animal would ordinarily stand, said first andsecond flexible elongate means providing a resiliently and transverselydeformable passage periphery operable to distend in response to theinsertion of an animal''s nose and permit said animal to drink saidwater from said water body and actuated said control means; aeration andlight exposure means operable to provide continuous ventilation andexposure to light of substantially said entire upper portion of saidwater body, said aeration and light exposure means further comprising: aplurality of passage means disposed transversely outwardly of said firstand second flexible elongate means, and said generally V-shaped passageof access means; said plurality of passage means and said generallyV-shaped passage cooperating to permit aeration of and exposure to lightof substantially the entire upper portion of said water body andinterior portions of said water receptacle means extending above saidupper surface of said water body; and detachable clip means operable todetachably support said resilient means on said water receptacle means,said detachable clip means comprising: a first generally arcuate clipengaging one end of said first flexible elongate means and operable todetachably engage an edge portion of said water receptacle means, and asecond, generally arcuate clip engaging one end of said second flexibleelongate means and operable to detachably engage an edge portion of saidwater receptacle means, and a third, generally arcuate clip engaginganother end of said first flexible elongate means and another end ofsaid second flexible elongate means and operable to detachably engage anedge portion of said water receptacle means.
 7. An apparatus forminimizing the fouling of a livestock area, said apparatus comprising:resilient means including: first flexible elongate means operable toextend across an upper portion of a water body from which animals woulddrink, and second flexible elongate means operable to extend across saidupper portion of said water body, said first and second flexibleelongate means being operable to cooperate to define a generallyV-shaped resilient impediment to licking of said water body; said firstand second flexible elongate means being operable to define: aresiliently and transversely deformable periphery of a continuously openpassage, which periphery is operable to distend in response to theinsertion of an animal''s nose and permits said animal to drink waterfrom said water body, and aeration and light exposure means comprising:a plurality of passage means disposed transversely outwardly of saidfirst and second flexible elongate means, and an access passage disposedtransversely between said first and second flexible elongate means, saidplurality of passage means and said access passage cooperating to permitaeration of and exposure to light of the interior of said waterreceptacle means.
 8. An apparatus for minimizing the fouling of alivestock feed area said apparatus comprising: water receptacle meansfor containing a water body, said water receptacle means having an edgeportion; water supply means operable to supply a water body to saidwater receptacle means, animal nose actuated control means containedwithin said water receptacle means and engagable by a nose of an animalto effect water flow controlling operation of said water supply means;and anti-licking means carried by said water receptacle means, operableto impede licking of the surface of said water body by livestock, andincluding resilient means extending transversely of the edge portion ofsaid water receptacle means and operable to impede licking by an animalof an upper portion of said water body; continuously open access meansaffording continuous access to, and continuous visibility of, saidcontrol means; aeration and light exposure means defined by saidcontinuously open access means and generally horizontally extending andsegmentally configured passages operable to provide continuousventilation and exposure to light of substantially said entire upperportion of said water body; and detachable clip means operable todetachably support said resilient means on said edge portion of saidwater receptacle means.